Past News Releases

Peterson & Associates, P.C., an experienced defective device litigation law firm, is investigating the cancer-risks posed by power morcellators. The firm is concerned about patient safety in light of FDA safety alerts and Johnson & Johnson’s worldwide withdrawal of power morcellators from the market due to the risk of spreading cancer during the procedure.

On April 17, 2014, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that surgeons and physicians cease using power morcellators to remove the uterus or uterine fibroids. Of the 50,000 women who undergo the procedure every year, the FDA estimates that 1 in 350 women have an undiagnosed uterine cancer. On July 30, 2014, Johnson & Johnson asked doctors to return the devices and it withdrew power morcellators from the market.

On August 1, 2014, the New York Times reported that the gynecological field disagrees about the usefulness of power morcellators. “This is a serious issue because power morcellation was touted as a safer alternative to traditional uterine surgical techniques,” said founding partner David Peterson. “However, new research suggests that power morcellators pose an extreme risk of spreading an aggressive and dangerous cancer throughout a woman’s abdomen and pelvic region,” continued Peterson.

The Wall Street Journal reported on July 30, 2014, that in addition to stopping the sales of power morcellators, Johnson & Johnson was asking all doctors to return the devices. The company extended an April 2014 moratorium on future sales until further guidance could be established by the medical community on the safety of such devices.

This action is noteworthy because as The Wall Street Journal reported, Johnson & Johnson provides over 70% of the power morcellators on the market and this decision effectively takes 70% of the power morcellators off the market. A handful of smaller companies still market and sell power morcellators.

Already, injured patients and their families have begun to file lawsuits against various manufacturers of power morcellators. “As the injuries continue to mount, our firm is offering free evaluations to potential clients who have developed cancer after a morcellation procedure. If the companies that manufacture these devices knew or should have known about the dangers, they need to be held legally and morally accountable,” concluded Peterson.

About Peterson & Associates, P.C.
Peterson & Associates, P.C. is an elite personal injury law firm that represents the interests of clients who are injured. The firm’s skilled litigators hold negligent parties responsible when they cause serious accidents and severe injuries.

For decades, the attorneys at Peterson & Associates, P.C., have served clients in and around Kansas City, Missouri resolve all of their personal injury matters. To learn more about the firm’s services visit http://www.petersonlawfirm.com. Individuals interested in contacting the firm to discuss legal issues, may call 1-877-378-4442.